How did you end up owning Cottage Gardens?

My youngest child had just turned five and I knew I wanted to work somewhere. I was either always at Cottage Gardens or always at Copperfield’s, so I literally applied to both of them. I’m so glad this is where I ended up because I'm an outdoors person. I’ve gardened my whole life. My family is from a farming family in Ireland so this just made so much sense. I started here 23 years ago.

What’s in your garden?

That’s going to take about four hours to tell you! I am a plant-a-holic. This is how I ended up owning Cottage Gardens. I am obsessed with all kinds of different plants. For example, I have over 90 roses and I love every one of them. I also love aloes. They’re super cool; they bloom in the winter; hummingbirds love them. They’re from South Africa but they do amazingly well here. 

What would you recommend to a beginning gardener?

I always recommend to start with a food item. Just think of what it is you love to eat. And everybody loves tomatoes! So you can start by growing a tomato. Pick an easy variety you can grow in a pot or grow in the ground. If you love tomatoes, you’re going to take really great care of that tomato plant and you’re going to love the taste of a homegrown tomato. There's one that is so easy – disease-free, and a great-tasting little tomato you can grow in a container – called the Juliet. It's super easy. In fact I'm bringing one up to my son in Reno later today.

What’s an underrated or overlooked plant or flower that you think is a real gem?

For years I paid zero attention to dahlias, didn't care for them. I didn’t see the value in them. That has changed over the years because there are some incredible dahlias that are so perfect that I think everybody ought to have at least one. The beautiful ball-shaped ones – you look at the symmetry in those things – it's miraculous, it makes you believe in nature as a god. And violas and pansies, oh my goodness, we take them for granted! Look at the face of one of those: it’s a total work of art.

What is something you wish people knew about you?

When I moved to the house I am in now about 29 years ago, my mom and my dad came to visit and they brought me three gorgeous roses. That was the beginning, and I'm up to 90-plus roses now. Every time I see them it reminds me of them and it is wonderful and makes me so happy. My dad was an amazing gardener. So when I’m out in my garden I talk to my dad quite a bit. It’s such a wonderful link to the past and link to my family.

You can find more garden tips from Fionuala on her YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwJz-lgJp-U

This conversation has been lightly edited for clarity and readability.